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Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
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Re: difference pressures in each arm
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.

Re: difference pressures in each arm

by Paul-Santos, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Paul Santos on June 16, 1999 at 12:01:53

Approximately 2 years ago I was diagnosed with mild hypertension I was hospitalized for about five days with Atrial fibrillation.
Since that time I have had a nuclear stress test and my heart appears to be in excellent shape with arteries clear (I am only 35 in otherwise excellent health).  My cardologist feels my hypertension is genetic.
More recently he has noticed my systolic pressure between my right and left arms shows a difference of 20 points.  He feels I might have a kink in one of my arteries which might be a birth defect. My EKG shows a negative T wave which has him puzzled.
Can you offer any other conclusions,  particularly regarding the difference in pressure between my arms?  I also suffer from "white coat syndrome"  My pressure is always higher when I am in his office.
Please advise
Paul S.




Member Comments

by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on June 16, 1999 at 16:21:02
The type of defect your doctor is referring to is called a coarctation and is a narrowing of the aorta before the take-off of the left arm artery.  Is it your left arm that has the lower pressure?  The test for this is a vascular duplex study and it can be confirmed with angiography.  If the coarctation is severe then surgical repair is necessary.   Has your doctor recommended any further testing?
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.











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